At least 12 dead in tourist bus crash in Quintana Roo

According to CBS News, at least 12 people died when a bus carrying cruise ship passengers to Mayan ruins in eastern Mexico flipped over on a highway early Tuesday December 19, officials said. At least seven Americans are among the injured.

In addition, two citizens of Sweden are injured, according to Quintana Roo state Civil Defense spokesman Vicente Martin, who said authorities haven’t yet established the nationalities of the dead.

A spokesman from the U.S. Embassy in Mexico said U.S. officials were working with local authorities to determine whether U.S. citizens were involved.

Costa Maya Mahahual, the bus company involved, said in a statement that the bus was carrying tourists who arrived to the coastal town of Mahahual.

In addition to the tourists, a guide and driver were aboard the bus, the company said.

Quintana Roo officials also said on Tuesday that there were 31 passengers aboard the bus who came from a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Royal Caribbean reports that the tour bus involved was carrying guests from Celebrity Equinox and Serenade of the Seas.